Minnesotans are Key Players at Drake Relays

There was no shortage of Minnesota news coming out of the Iowa capitol city of Des Moines at last weekend's Drake Relays.

The Gopher women won two relays, Aaron Studt won a second straight shot put title, and Burnsville High grad Laura Hermanson of NDSU was the runaway winner of the 800 meters at "America's Athletic Classic.".

But the men's 4 x 1600m and Distance Medley Relays were, perhaps, the most intriguing of the Minnesota stories. The Gophers won the 4 x 16 and finished runner-up in the DMR in races that featured Minnesota runners playing important role for each of the top-three teams.

In Friday's 4 x 1600m, the Gopher anchor Ben Blankenship held off Winona High School grad Elliott Heath of Stanford (pictured above) in a furious kick for the title. The Gopher team of Hassan Mead, Andy Richardson, Chris Rombough, and Blankenship edged Stanford 16:29.74 to 16:29.85.

The Des Moines Register featured the Minnesotans in THIS feature story. You can watch video highlights of the race as well as an interview with Hermanson HERE, thanks to the Register.

In addition to the Blankenship/Heath battle, 2008 Rosemount High School grad Jordan Carlson ran the third leg of the Notre Dame's thrid-place squad which clocked 16:44.95.

In Saturday's DMR, Stanford returned to top the Gophers -- but needed two home-staters to pull off the feat. Elliott Heath ran the 1200m opener for the Cardinal and brother Garrett anchored in the 1600m leg. Wisconsin led early in the anchor leg -- thanks in part to Mounds View grad Quinn Evans' 400m leg -- and Rombough put the Gophers into the lead, but Garrett Heath's finish was the difference for Stanford.

Stanford clocked 9:36.14, edging the Gopher squad of Blankenship, Logan Stroman, Richardson, and Chris Rombough. Wisconsin, which could field a DMR that includes Evans, Burnsville grad Rob Finnerty, and Buffalo High School senior Zac Mellon in the coming years, was third in 9:45.26.

Complete Drake Relays results are HERE.

Find great Drake Relays coverage HERE, from the Des moines Register.

Read about the Golden Gophers' exploits HERE (men) and HERE (women).


Photo by Gene Niemi.